The Falcons started 0-1 on the season and seemed destined for 0-2 when they fell behind in the fourth quarter vs. Philadelphia in Week 2
Thanks to quarterback Kirk Cousins carrying over his vintage Vikings fourth-quarter comeback magic that night — and again in Weeks 4 and 5 — they're now 3-2 heading into Week 6.
Cousins once again rallied host Atlanta to victory after being down late in a game in Thursday night's 36-30 thriller vs. Tampa Bay, leading both a game-tying drive that was capped with Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal at the end of regulation and a game-winning drive less than three minutes into overtime.
MORE KIRK COUSINS:
500-yard QB club | Prime-time record improving | Learning to 'Swag Surf' | 'You like that!' recreation
Kirk Cousins fourth-quarter comebacks
For the first time in his career Cousins threw for 500-plus yards in a game (509), but more important, he pushed his total of successful fourth-quarter comebacks to 25 to go along with his 31st game-winning drive.
Cousins has gone three-for-three with those defining QB rallies in the Falcons' wins, making a fine first impression on his new team after signing a big free-agent contract coming off a torn Achilles that ended his time at Minnesota.
Over the past three games, Cousins has been fully healthy and fully locked into the offense of Zac Robinson, a Sean McVay-adjacent, pass-heavy attack similar to the one in which he thrived under Kevin O'Connell in Minnesota.
Cousins' 25 comebacks ties him for fifth among active QBs with the Panthers' Andy Dalton. Only the Rams' Matthew Stafford (36), the Steelers' Russell Wilson (31), the Saints' Derek Carr (28) and unsigned Ryan Tannehill (26) have more.
But since 2022, when Cousins led the league with eight fourth-quarter comebacks and game-winning drives for the 13-4 Vikings, Captain Kirk has been the NFL's ultimate Captain Comeback. After his lost half-season in 2023, Cousins now leads the league again for the Falcons in 2024.
It was appropriate Cousins got it done in the fourth quarter and OT on the night the Falcons inducted franchise great QB Matt Ryan into their Ring of Honor. Ryan, who had 38 fourth-quarter comebacks in his career, is fourth all-time behind only Tom Brady (46), Peyton Manning (43), and Ben Roethlisberger (41).
Cousins, between his "You Like That!" past in Washington and current "Swag Surfin" self in Atlanta, went from very good to an elite pocket passer in Minnesota. He was consistently over the century mark with his passing efficiency when healthy, and he's headed there again for the Falcons after a concerning slow start.
There are no more questions about the Achilles now. There are no more rumblings of when the Falcons can turn to first-round rookie Michael Penix Jr. Their dormant passing game has been rejuvenated by a buoyant, more likable than ever 36-year-old. The Falcons haven't seen the likes of this in the fourth quarter and beyond since the last best seasons of Ryan, including his 2016 MVP campaign.
Eight years ago, Ryan, during that MVP run that carried the Falcons to Super Bowl 51, joined the 500-yard club for the first time. Cousins doing it while also channeling Matty Ice's clutch fourth-quarter play was a case of the star QBs aligning.
The Falcons got a lot of heat for drafting Penix when they had already signed Cousins. Now they deserve a lot more credit for committing to Cousins, and he's rewarding them for believing he could pick up where left off with his fourth-quarter play.
